Cooling system for an internal combustion engine



T. Z. WHITE Sept. 28, 1965 COOLING SYSTEM FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINE Filed March 20, 1964 7A00 ORA Z. W///7' INVENTOR BY ,Q 6. 2. f

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,208,438 COOLING SYSTEM FOR AN INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINE Theodore Z. White, Dearborn Heights, Mich., assignorto Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware FiledMar. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 353,383 9 Claims. (Cl. 12341.5)

This invention relates to a liquid cooling system for an internalcombustion engine and more particularly to a cooling system embodying animproved expansion device.

In the liquid cooling system of an automotive engine it is now a commonpractice to use a crossfiow type radiator. The crossflow radiator isdesirable since it permits a low hood line. A separate, expansion tank,however, must be used with the crossflow radiator to compensate for theincrease in volume of the coolant at engine operating temperatures. Theseparate expansion tank normally employed with crossfiow radiatorsincreases the possibility of coolant system leaks since additionalconduits and fittings are required to connect the expansion tank intothe system.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide animproved expansion device for the cooling system of an internalcombustion engine that will not present the possibility of leakage.

The current emphasis upon low maintenance vehicles has also created ademand for sealed engine cooling systems. In addition to requiringpremium coolants, the sealed cooling system requires higher qualitycomponents. It is essential that the number of conduits and connectionsbe reduced in a sealed system to reduce the number of possible areas ofleakage. is provided, additional areas of leakage are introduced intothis system.

It therefore is a further object of this invention to provide a liquidcooling system that embodies an integral expansion device.

A liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine embodying thisinvention includes a cooling jacket for the engine. Means including aflexible conduit are provided for circulating liquid cooling through thesystem. The flexible conduit includes an expandable section that isresilient in a radial direction. The expandable section expands upontemperature induced increases in the volume of the coolant contained inthe system. Expansion limiting means surround the expandable section tolimit the degree of expansion.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparentwhen considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of a liquid cooling system for an internalcombustion engine embodying this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side-elevational view of the expansion deviceemployed in the cooling system shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side-elevational view of another form of expansion device.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular to FIGURE 1, aliquid cooled internal combustion engine is identified generally by thereference numeral 11. The engine 11 includes a cylinder block 12 andcylinder head 13 that are provided with cooling jackets through which asuitable liquid coolant may be circulated. A crankshaft driven coolantpump 14 is positioned at the front of the cylinder block 12 forcirculating the liquid coolant.

The crossfiow radiator or heat exchanger, indicated If a separateexpansion device generally by the reference numeral 15, is positioned atthe front of the engine 11. The radiator 15 has a section 16 made up ofa plurality of water tubes and heat exchanger fins. Header tanks 17 and18 are positioned at each end of the section 16. An engine driven fan 19causes air circulation across the radiator 17.

A coolant outlet fitting 21 is positioned in the lower side of theheader tank 18. One end of a flexible hose 22 is connected to the outletfitting 21 by a hose clamp 23. The other end of the flexible hose 22 isaffixed to the inlet side of the coolant pump 14. The coolant pump 14discharges coolant into the cylinder block 12 and cylinder head 13. Aflexible conduit 24 is provided to convey coolant from an engine coolantoutlet fitting 25 positioned upon cylinder head 13, to a radiator inletfitting 26 positioned at the upper end of the header tank 17. Clamps 27and 28 secure the respective ends of the flexible conduit 24 to theirrespective fittings.

The coolant system illustrated is of the sealed type. That is, along-life liquid coolant having a low freezing point and a high boilingpoint is contained within the system. A filler cap 29 may be positionedupon the header tank 17 to permit topping up of the system. The fillercap 29 may also include a pressure relief valve of any known type (notshown).

If the system is completely filled with coolant when the engine is atnormal ambient temperatures, the coolant will expand when it reaches thenormal engine operating temperature. It is additionally desirable topermit a certain degree of pressurization in the system to raise theboiling point of the coolant. The changes in coolant volume areaccommodated by an expansion device indicated generally by the referencenumeral 31 and shown in greater detail in FIGURE 2. The expansion device31 comprises an expandable section 32 that may be integral with theconduit 24 or may be a separate portion secured at each end to theconduit 26, as by clamps 33 and 34. The expandable section 32 is moreresilient in a radial direction than the conduit 26 so that theincreased pressure in the coolant system generated by the expansion ofthe coolant may readily deform the outer diameter of the section 32 asshown in the dotted line view of FIGURE 2.

It is essential that some means is provided to limit the radialexpansion of the section 32. For this purpose a barrel-shaped coiledsteel wire 35 encircles the section 32. When the section 32 expands tothe diameter shown in the dotted line view it will be contacted by theinternal diameter of the barrel-shaped wire 35 and further radialexpansion will be limited.

Another form of expansion limiting device is shown in FIGURE 3. In thisfigure the conduit 26 is continuous. A radially expandable section 52 isprovided, however, by forming the section 52 with a thinner wall or withless internal reinforcing than the remaining portion of the conduit 26or both. Upon increases in the volume of the coolant within the system,the section 52 will increase in diameter to the shape shown by thedotted line 52a. A woven wire or cloth expansion limiting element 53encircles the section 52 and is aflixed axially thereto by the clamps 54and 55.

The internal volume of the expansion limiting element 53 is greater thanthe volume displaced by the expandable section 52 at normal, ambientcoolant temperatures. The volume of the woven expansion limiting element53 is suflicient, however, to permit normal expansion of the coolant andexpandable section 52 at engine operating temperatures. Furtherexpansion is limited by the contact of the outer surface of the section52 with the inner surface of the expansion limiting element 53.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the exactconstruction shown and described. As has been noted, the expandablesection may be a separate or integral element of one of the coolingsystem conduits. The conduit that embodies the expansion device can beany conduit in the cooling system that carries the liquid coolant. Inaddition to being one of the conduits that interconnects the enginecooling jacket to the radiator, the conduit may connect the enginecooling jacket to a vehicle heater or an induction system heatingdevice. Other changes and modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine comprisinga cooling jacket for said engine, means including a flexible conduit forcirculating coolant through said system, said flexible conduitcomprising an expandable section, said section being resilient in aradial direction for expansion upon changes in the volume of the coolantcontained in said system, and expansion limiting means surrounding saidexpandable section for engagement with said section upon a predeterminedexpansion for limiting further expansion.

2. A liquid cooling system as defined by claim 1 wherein the expansionlimiting means comprises a coiled steel wire.

3. A liquid cooling system as defined by claim 1 wherein the expansionlimiting means comprises a woven element surrounding the expandablesection.

4. A liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine comprisinga cooling jacket for said engine, a heat exchanger, conduit means forcirculating liquid coolant between said heat exchanger and said coolingjacket, said conduit means including an expandable section, saidexpandable section being resilient in a radial direction for expansionfrom a normal diameter to an increased diameter upon a temperatureinduced increase in the volume of the coolant contained in said system,and expansion limiting means surrounding said expandable section forengagement with said section upon a predetermined expansion for limitingfurther expansion.

5. A liquid cooling system as defined by claim 4 wherein the expansionlimiting means comprises a substantially rigid coiled Wire encirclingthe expandable section, the inside diameter of said coiled wire beinggreater than the normal external diameter of said expandable section.

6. A liquid cooling system as defined by claim 4 wherein the expansionlimiting means comprises a woven element surrounding the expandablesection, the internal volume of said woven element being greater thanthe volume displaced by said expandable section in its normal diameter.

7. A liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine comprisinga cooling jacket for said engine, a crossfiow heat exchanger, firstconduit means intercon necting the outlet of said cooling jacket withone side of said heat exchanger, second conduit means interconnectingthe inlet of said cooling jacket with the other side of said heatexchanger, at least one of said conduits comprising an expandablesection, said section being resilient in a radial direction forexpansion in the diameter of said section upon temperature inducedchanges in the volume of the coolant contained in said system, andexpansion limiting means surrounding said expandable section forengagement with the external diameter of said section upon apredetermined expansion for limiting further expansion.

8. A liquid cooling system as defined by claim 7 wherein the expansionlimiting means comprises a barrelshaped coiled Wire surrounding theexpandable section.

9. A liquid cooling system as defined by claim 7 wherein the expansionlimiting means comprises a substantially rigid woven element surroundingthe expandable section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,525,994 10/50Baber 123-415 X 2,890,686 6/59 Cassell 1234l.5

KARL J. ALBRECHT, Primary Examiner.

1. A LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE COMPRISINGA COOLING JACKET FOR SAID ENGINE, MEANS INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE CONDUIT FORCIRCULATING COOLANT THROUGH SAID SYSTEM, SAID FLEXIBLE CONDUITCOMPRISING AN EXPANDABLE SECTIION, SAID SECTION BEING RESILIENT IN ARADIAL DIRECTION FOR EXPANSION UPON CHANGES IN THE VOLUME OF THE COOLANTCONTAINED IN SAID SYSTEM, AND EXPANSION LIMITING MEANS SURROUNDING SAIDEXPANDABLE SECTION FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECTION UPON A PREDETERMINEDEXPANSION FOR LIMITING FURTHER EXPANSION.